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xtrole's avatar

Intriguing tale! 💯

It’s always fascinating to explore and consider possibilities of what technologies could be invented and what might happen with those technologies if they were to be invented. ⚖️

Brok3n Engines's avatar

This one is not, I think, very far-fetched. Cortical Visual Protheses are a real thing. The nanites Jack invented are a stretch, but at least imaginable.

Brok3n Engines's avatar

Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it.

IssyInk's avatar

Really interesting story.

I liked the ideas around brain interfaces, telepathy, and trust. I think Mary and Jack made a great team. I liked the ending especially, it leaves me wondering whether Mary influenced Burnside after all.

Thanks for sharing!

Iris Grey's avatar

Really like this work, in particular the ending, which somehow surprised me even though it really shouldn't have. I found it interesting how the concept of brain-computer interface was explored from both the scientist and the patient side (as they are the same person) since one of the major issues with BCIs are trust issues, because the scientist tends to know more. And this story did a very interesting play of that near the end. I'm curious on the speech part, how it's similar to speaking rather than including and exposing the thinking process behind it at the same time, which I suppose is a major privacy issue for any who ever entertained the concept of something like the sim-stim, but I guess that's also addressed by the irony. Overall, really enjoyed our conversation in the other work and this piece, looking forward to future pieces! Subscribed!

Brok3n Engines's avatar

Thanks! Glad you liked it.

Yes. The brain-to-brain speech interface has to have been programmed by Mary. I imagined she based the auditory component on subvocalization. When you think words without speaking aloud, motor cortical neurons fire in the pattern they would if you spoke aloud, so that would have been fairly straightforward. The emotional/trust component would have to come from other brain regions.

Iris Grey's avatar

Ah, makes sense, now that’s an interesting piece of new information :)